It's been a lot of fun watching Mayor Paul Tomlinson play Inspector Clouseau as he tries to guess who the Concerned Citizens of Kearney are. He's threatened us with the OPP, RCMP, his legal counsel, and a rampaging mob of Proudfooters carrying torches and pitchforks.
His latest bit of sleuthing follows hot on the heels of our last article with an email to Concerned Citizens.
Here's what he wrote:
Dear Usual Suspect: you finally have bitten off more than you can chew. Tonight’s blog has come to my attention.
I am attaching a copy of two photos taken of you [by Tomlinson himself, no less] video taping the All Candidates meeting and therefore my address to you this evening of [Usual Suspect]. You were in fact the ONLY person video taping the All Candidates meeting. In addition to sitting on the front row you moved along the side wall later in the proceeding as you were in need of a power source.
I am also sending along a copy from the January 14, 2011 Council minutes as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Kearney has prepared the following direction for the 2011 budget:
1. That presentation of the 2009 Audit to Council occur as soon as possible;
2. That a Municipal Finance Information session for Council be arranged as soon as possible, including the role of the budgetary control document, as well as debt and reserves statement, capital plan of 2010, Roads needs study, 518 project outline, and bridge report;
3. That a draft budget be prepared with operating costs to be reduced by 5% from 2010 budget numbers in the following departments: Council, General Administration, Administration Office operations, Fire Department, First Response, Community Centre and Public Works. NOTE: Capital expenditures and transfers to reserves are not included in this target number;
4. That each department will detail the changes proposed to manage this change to the Budget Ad Hoc Committee;
5. That the draft budget be prepared and provided to the Budget Ad Hoc Committee by February 23, 2011.
CARRIED
I am expecting an IMMEDIATE apology and retraction.
Further, you should be aware that I have copies of your blog since inception and unless this blog is taken down within the the next 24hrs its contents will be referred to my legal councel[sic] .
Regards
Paul H. Tomlinson
Mayor
Corporation of The Town of Kearney
8 Main Street
Kearney , ON P0A 1M0
705 636-1608
kearneytomlinson@gmail.com
By God, Holmes! You've done it again!
But 'allo, whot's all this then...? We see the guys in the front row with the video camera, but what do you suppose those other good citizens are up to, Sherlock?
Dash it all! Foiled again, Watson!
But all kidding aside, Paul old boy; Are we supposed to interpret the resolution you included as your "direction to our staff for the 2011 budget"?
"Hey, you staff, go make a... a... budget! Yah, that's it, a budget! And um... uh... cut 5% somehow so people will think I'm great! Chop, chop!"
Wow! None of us dumb Townies could have come up with that in 60 days! We totally apologize, Paul!
Seriously?
That's your idea of going "one further"? We could have gone you "one further" and come up with that while you were still cramming your face full of inauguration cake.
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But on a more positive note: We'd like to give a shout out to all the concerned citizens (nudge, nudge) who have been sending us their pictures, videos, and insider info. We couldn't do it without you! Especially those guys in the front row! Or was it the guy in the back? No, wait...
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And a special thanks to Mayor Paul Tomlinson, who apparently has been a faithful follower and blog scrap-booker: Thanks for making this all too easy, Paul!
Anyway, gotta run! INTERPOL and a bunch of Mexican Federales just kicked our door in.
Of course, Barrie resident, Councillor Barry Dingwall had to remind everyone of the Proudfoot Four's real feelings about Townie events when he tabled the motion to have councillors assigned to attend events. Dingwall assumed that the other councillors felt as he does and would have to be ordered to attend a minimum number of events. Councillor Yvonne Wills raised the point that councillors, as representatives of the citizens of Kearney, should make every effort to at least attend every town event, if not pitch in and help out. Councillors shouldn't just have to meet a minimum quota. As the people of Kearney (or at least the ones that actually live in Kearney) know, Councillor Wills has attended virtually every event, even prior to entering town politics. Can Mayor Paul Tomlinson or his bootlick, Deputy Mayor Art Murdy claim the same?
